CLUPEIDvE. 205 



Family, V CLUPEIDtE, Cuvier. 



Gill-openings usually very wide; pseudobranchiae, when present, well 

 developed. Abdomen mostly compressed, generally into a sharp edge, and 

 usually serrated. Opercular pieces, four. Eyes lateral, with or without an 

 adipose covering or lateral lids. Margins of the upper jaw formed mesially by 

 the premaxillaries, laterally by the maxillaries, which latter are composed of 

 three pieces not ossified together. Mouth may have a deep cleft, with small 

 premaxillaries and the maxilla elongated, and either the upper or lower jaw 

 projecting; or the mouth may be transverse. Barbels absent. Fin rays articu- 

 lated. A single dorsal, with a few or moderate number of weak rays, and 

 sometimes many rayed. Scales on the body : none, as a rule, on the head. 

 Lateral-line mostly absent. Stomach with a " cul de sac." Air-bladder more or 

 less simple. Pyloric appendages, when present, numerous. 



Although, in our seas the herrings are merely represented by six species, still 

 one, or the true herring, is among the most valuable of our marine fishes ; 

 another, the pilchard, is likewise of considerable importance ; and a third, or the 

 sprat, is of great economic use. An account of each of these fisheries will have 

 to be detailed, consequently it is merely necessary in this place to draw attention 

 to some phenomena which are common to the members of the entire family. 



Most of the fishes of which the family of herrings is composed are gregarious 

 forms that congregate in shoals, and, as a rnle, swim more or less near the surface. 

 They have no means of defence against predaceous foes, and are preyed upon by 

 numerous enemies, to counterbalance which they are endowed with great prolific 

 powers. It appears somewhat improbable that man, with his present implements 

 of capture, will be able to annihilate the herring shoals in our seas, but without 

 doing this he can scare them, and so break up the shoals by injudicious modes of 

 fishing. He can likewise drive them from certain shores into the deeper water, 

 where they may form a deep-sea race ; or he may occasion their entirely forsaking 

 a locality. 



Geographical distribution. Herrings are found in most seas, and many enter 

 fresh waters. 



Synopsis of Genera. 



1. Engraulis, or anchovy. Upper jaw prominent, mouth with a very deep 

 cleft, eyes covered by skin. 



2. Clupea, or true herrings. Upper jaw not projecting. Eyes with free lateral 



adipose lids. 



Genus I Engraulis, Cuvier. 



Stolephorus, Lacepede. Thryssa and Telara, Cuvier. Setipinna, Swainson. 

 Pterenyraulis, Lycengraulis, Lycothrissa, and Eeterothrissa, Giinther. 



Branchiostegals short and rather numerous. Gill-openings wide, the membrane 

 connecting the two sides being short, thus leaving the isthmus uncovered. Body 

 oblong or elevated, and the abdominal edge compressed. Cleft of mouth 

 lateral: snout conical, the upper jaw the longer. Maxillaries of varying 

 length, but always long, having a membraneous attachment to the cheeks. Teeth 

 small, sometimes of unequal size, usually present in the jaws, vomer, palatine, and 

 pteryqoid bones. The dorsal fin may be iv holly or partially in advance of, or entirely 

 posterior to, the origin of the anal. The upper pectoral rays may or may not be 

 prolonged : anal with many or a moderate number of rays. Scales large or of 

 moderate size. 



